nal criteria of valuation overwhelm local
use values, then indigenous peoples will
have incentive to exploit species that are
in demand, for brief or longer spans of
time, on the world market.
Overexploitation of market-preferred
species might consequently trigger losses
of species interacting with them, while
other local flora and fauna—those not val-
ued by the global market—might multiply
to levels that cause environmental asym-
metries and disrupt ecosystem processes.
Changes in ethnobiological preferences
have environmental impacts that are diffi-
cult to predict or counteract. For this rea-
son it is crucial to appreciate local knowl-
edge systems and resource uses, not only
for their economic value to us or even to
local people themselves but for their ines-
timable conservation value.
Conservation authorities in India and else-
where are often asserting the principles of
decentralised decision-making out of
respect for indigenous peoples’ rights and
“native wisdom”. Yet in pronouncements
such as the Ministry of Tribal Affairs draft
policy discussed here it is difficult to
ignore tones of calculated public relations
rhetoric and condescension. Celebratory
references to native wisdom are uncon-
vincing if policy makers and conservation
officials fail to make serious efforts to
solicit indigenous peoples’ opinions. An
important reason for taking local knowl-
edge seriously is that external observers
cannot understand ecosystem processes
and biodiversity dynamics without under-
standing the roles played by indigenous
people in maintaining their “natural” envi-
ronments. Indigenous knowledge needs
to be incorporated into conservation
strategies. Environmental assessments
should always involve social
assessments.^24 Conservation strategies
for Great Nicobar should involve the direct
participation of those whose resource
uses have shaped the island for possibly
thousands of years. The Shompen and
other tribal societies were “developing”
long before modern societies had any real
impact on them. “Sustainable develop-
ment” of the population of Great Nicobar
may not be an oxymoron if development
is more closely defined by the value sys-
tems and cultural practices of the
Shompen.
Selected references
Andrews, Harry V., Vasumathi Sankaran (eds.),
Sustainable Management of Protected Areas in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands Environmental Trust, Indian Institute of Public
Administration, and Flora and Fauna International,
New Delhi, 2002.
Babu, S., S. Sharma, A. Love and C. R. Babu, “Niche
opportunity: a new paradigm in invasion ecology”,
paper delivered to the Centenary Journal Seminar of
the Bombay Natural History Society, 14-16 November
2003.
Balakrishnan, N. P., “Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve”,
in Singh, N. P. and K. P. Singh (eds.), Floristic Diversity
and Conservation Strategies in India. Volume V: In
Situ and Ex Situ Conservation, Botanical Survey of
India, 2495-2537, Kolkata, 2002.
Boden Kloss, C., In the Andamans and Nicobars. The
Narrative of a Cruise in the Schooner “Terrapin”, with
Notices of the Islands, Their Fauna, Ethnology, Etc.,
Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 1994 [orig.
History, cculture aand cconservation
Suresh Babu([email protected]) is
Senior Research Fellow at the School of
Environmental Studies, University of Delhi. He
has been actively engaged in studies of ecosys-
tem dynamics and biodiversity of the Great
Nicobar Biosphere Reserve since 1999. (He is
the sole author of the text boxes in the article).
Denys P. Leighton ([email protected])
is Visiting Fellow in the Department of History,
University of Delhi. He is interested in environ-
mental history in India in relation to nationalist
discourses and development planning. The
authors gratefully acknowledge for suggestions,
advice and cooperation, Professor Kanchan
Chopra, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi;
Professor C. R. Babu, School of Environmental
Studies, University of Delhi; the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India;
and the Department of Tribal Affairs, Andaman
and Nicobar Administration.
